If you were lucky enough to attend the Great Roasts dinners at Kramerville Bakery you’ll know this is big news: power couple Alex and Eloise Windebank are set to open a fine new restaurant named Farro in Illovo. Eloise is front-of-house now while chef Alex takes control in the kitchen.

Alex and Eloise Windebank. Photo by Robyn Davie Photography.

The name comes from the ancient grain, which relates to the word ‘farina’, Latin for ‘food’. And what kind of food can be expected? “We might do an egg yolk ravioli and something as a starter, all hand-made,” says Eloise. “A main could be lamb rack or lamb two-ways – because we don’t like to waste parts of the animal – with crumpets and white bean and green sauce. Oh, dessert might be a banana poppadum with our pineapple-and-ginger ice cream. Those kinds of dishes.” Good news for the lovers of Kramerville Bakery’s doughnuts: though Farro is certainly no coffee shop, once a month there might just be a morning for those famous doughnuts, so as not to provoke a riot.

A mackerel open sandwich likely to be found on the Farro menu if you’re lucky. Photo supplied.

Though not a coffee shop, it won’t be a formal affair either. “We don’t want to present people with the long white apron clue to fine dining, so let’s say it’s real food or real dining,” says Eliose. The couple will make everything from scratch and assiduously make a point of using local ingredients so fresh that Farro’s menu will change daily to accommodate the day’s produce.

An Eton mess dessert. Photo supplied.

Both the menu and the wine list will be short. The wine selection will be strictly local and may change often too. Most will be available by the glass and cocktails will be classics.

The atmosphere is intended to reflect your chef and host’s personalities and make the meal itself the exciting experience with beautiful, unfussed food.

A salmon Farro dish. Photo supplied.

Farro will open this Thursday (8 March) for lunches and dinners, Mondays to Saturdays.